Improved Resource Utilization Decisions through Strengthened and Sustainable Management Information Systems

James (Kip) EckroadBS, MS, MBATASC2 Project - Eritrea

Three Intermediate Result Areas

IR1: Active Demand for Primary Health Care Expanded

IR2: Quality of Priority Primary Health Services Improved

IR3: Institutional Capacity for Resource Allocation Decisions Improved

IR3 Strategies

Develop and strengthen health management information systemsStrengthen the management systems, practices and proceduresDevelop and improve capacity for decision makingContinued support for decentralization and hospital autonomy

MIS Assessment: Initial Findings

MIS function and responsibility dispersed throughout the Ministry of HealthAll systems highly dependent on outside assistance for modification or maintenanceMost systems in MS Access database but programmed in Visual BasicsSignificant unmet need for improvement of existing or development of new systems

Recommended Improvements in System Development

Priority given to sustainability through independence from outside sourcesSustainability and independence directly related to the degree of openness and accessStandardization important for integration and sharing of data; as well as for building an internal body of knowledge for supporting the systems

Information Systems Design Based on Sound Database Theory

Database design based on relational database theoryFollow the three levels of normalizationThis greatly facilitates growth and expansion, additional attributes and new entitiesTry to identify the single most important table and build around it

An “Open Access” Approach

Maximum use of Access wizards, tools and especially the query capabilitiesMenu structure based on Switchboard Manager, common user interfaceReliance on forms for data entry and editingStandardization of nomenclature for tables, forms and queriesThe incremental approach to information systems development

Implementation of the Approach

Development of 3 new systems in key resource area: drug logistics, personnel management and donor financingImplementation and capacity building for the new information systemsCapacity building focus on continuous learning models: mentoring and formative supervision

Principal Challenges

Importance of documented specifications as form of communication with client

Direction, coordination and integration among the various MOH information systems

Invoice Editing and Posting Form